Category Archives: Latest News

Yes, it’s time to mark your calendar and join us to march in Coronado’s Fourth of July parade. When you participate in this city-wide event, you demonstrate to our community that there are many Democrats here in Coronado and that we have an active, vibrant club.

So plan now to be a part of this year’s celebration. You, your family and friends can join the fun :
1.Ride a bicycle, or walk, children on scooters or wagons, etc. are welcome too.
2. We have electric cars and a convertible

We supply the decorations. All you’ll need to do is RSVP your participation and then pick up festive 4th decorations during the week before the parade at 442 I Ave, Coronado.

You will receive an email with the location and time we’ll meet prior to the parade.

On parade day we encourage everyone to wear any past Democratic Club tee shirt you may have whether you are in the parade or a spectator. So get out those old shirts and get them ready for the big day.

Further details will be forthcoming. If you need to ride in a car, want to RSVP, and/or have questions, contact Patti Flores-Charter at (H) (619) 437-1952 (C) (619) 206-7450 or ccnado@san.rr.com

We can’t wait to celebrate with you and the rest of our city on July 4th.

“The partisan primary system, which favors more ideologically pure candidates, has contributed to the election of more extreme officeholders and increased political polarization. It has become a menace to governing.”
— Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

During my conversations with fellow Democrats, the subject of ideological purity v. winning elections occasionally arises. We in California are fortunate to have all statewide constitutional offices, and majorities of both houses of the Legislature and our Congressional delegation safely in the hands of the Democratic Party.

Primary election voters of both Democratic and Republican parties often have a tendency to vote for the most ideologically pure candidate. This isn’t necessarily a problem in states or districts where the general election outcome isn’t in doubt; however, in “swing” states or districts, general election voters (including independents) may prefer candidates who reside closer to the center of the ideological spectrum.

Some election reforms have been tried in an effort to moderate primary election outcomes. One is the “open” primary, in which any voters may vote in a party’s primary election. Another is the “top-two” primary (sometimes called “jungle” primary), in which candidates from all parties are grouped together on one ballot, and the two candidates receiving the most votes advances to the general election. California is one of three states that uses a top-two primary in partisan elections (the others are Louisiana and Washington; Nebraska uses an open primary for its officially non-partisan legislative races).

The idea behind “open” and “top-two” primary elections was that if all voters, not just those registered with a particular party, could vote for any party’s candidates, it would result in more moderate candidates advancing to the general election. Whether this is the case remains a subject of intense research and discussion among political scientists.

In recent special elections, those Democratic candidates who managed to get elected in traditionally Republican states or districts held positions that hewed more closely to their electorate’s beliefs than Democratic candidates one might find in a Democratic stronghold. In California, we have an opportunity to “flip” a number of Congressional seats from “red” to “blue;” two of these are all or partially in San Diego County. Would an ideologically pure candidate or one who is perceived to be more moderate have a better chance of winning such a contest?

Some primary voters “sincerely” vote for candidates who adhere to their own personal beliefs; other, “strategic” voters will try to elect the candidate who has the best chance of winning the general election for their party. Which kind of voter are you?

Please join us March 10, 2018 for our annual luncheon at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course Dining facility. Doors will open at 11:30 and lunch will be served at noon.

Our speaker will be Mr. Michael Smolens of the San Diego Union Tribune. Mr. Smolens, after a few opening remarks, would like to conduct an inter-active question and answer forum so that he can specifically address your concerns about a range of issues. So, although as Democrats we are somewhat shy, reticent, and unwilling to ask hard, probing questions, let’s surprise Mr. Smolens with the fact that in Coronado, inquiring minds want to know.

Michael Smolens is a columnist for the Union-Tribune with a long history of political coverage. He was government and politics editor at the U-T from 1992 until late 2017. During that time, he has overseen local, state and national political news. As a reporter, he covered politics at all levels, including San Diego City Hall, and did a four-year stint in the news organization’s Sacramento bureau in the late 1980’s. A native of Wellesley, Mass., Smolens graduated from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, where he majored in English and journalism. Smolens also attended Elmira College in New York and was a goalie on the school’s hockey team. Declining reflexes persuaded him not to seek a career in the NHL.

You can purchase your tickets online here. Or if you prefer to pay by Check you can click here to download the reservation form.

Another busy year is over and it is once again time to renew your club membership. It surely is true that “time flies when you’re having fun” or when you’re involved in keeping our club strong and vibrant. Your support is greatly appreciated. Our club dues are important for many reasons some of which include the purchase of supplies, special projects and events, gifts or presentations and most importantly to demonstrate how strong we are as a club. This last is especially important when finding speakers for our meetings and in dealing with other clubs.

Our membership year runs from January 1 to December 31. Please fill out the membership application found in this newsletter and send it along with your check as soon as possible. Remember that now you can also pay your dues on line by going to our web-site and following the instructions.

Last, but not least, consider volunteering for any of the committees listed on the application. We are always in need of help. If any of your personal information, (email address, phone number etc.) has changed since last year please bring that to our attention so that our records will be up to date and you will not be left out of the “information loop”.

If you have questions or want additional applications for your family or friends please email Mercy Mandelbaum at ycrem613@gmail.com or call (619) 435-1911.

Now that the Alabama special election results are in (with a great win for Doug Jones and decency in politics), 2018 is shaping up to be one of the most critical mid-term elections in modern history. Democrats have a chance to retake both the House and the Senate.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon all Democrats to do what they can to help this happen. We’re now recruiting motivated Coronado Dems to join the GO Team and help with this effort. Anyone interested, please contact Richard McKnight at rmcknight@lawlasvegas.com. Together we can do this!!!

Members of the club are always welcome to attend our Board meetings. This is an opportunity to meet and interact with Board members and also gain insight into the issues facing the club. Of course your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Our next Board meeting will be held on February 6th at 7:00 PM in the library’s small conference room. Since there is limited seating in that room please call Frank King at (619) 992-8929 or email him at president@coronadodemocrats.com to reserve your seat.

Recently, while viewing on Netflix Robert Reich’s documentary based on his book, Saving Capitalism, I noticed he mentioned the “Powell Memo.” I went to the “library” and looked up the Powell Memo in my favorite reference source, Google. Two months before President Nixon nominated him in 1971 as justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, Lewis Powell was a corporate lawyer and member of the boards of 11 corporations. He also wrote a memo to his friend, Eugene Sydnor, Jr, a director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It was a sort of “corporations of the world, unite!” manifesto.

What became known as the Powell Memo was confidential and didn’t become available to the public until long after his confirmation to our highest court. It eventually was leaked to syndicated columnist Jack Anderson, who unsurprisingly questioned Powell’s objectivity on the Court. The Powell Memo is often cited as having led to the era of increased political activity by corporations that lasts to this day. Some have credited it with influencing the creation of several conservative, pro-business think tanks and institutes such as the Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute and Manhattan Institute. These organizations were created, in large part, to counter the growing environmental and consumer movements, as well as a perceived anti-business atmosphere on our college campuses. It is not difficult to understand how they hit pay dirt with the election of Ronald Reagan and his less-government philosophy.

These institutions pursue a long-term strategy, focused on education, shifting values and movement-building. For those who are familiar with the Powell Memo and the organizations it has inspired, the recently-passed Republican tax “reform” bill should be no surprise. Rather, it is a culmination of their work since the last major tax reform was enacted in 1986. This latest tax bill doesn’t pretend to address the interests of the average voter–even the average Trump voter. Rather, it is a total sellout to the Republican donor class and provides $1.5 trillion of relief to corporations and their wealthy owners, at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Not a bad return on an investment of a few hundred million dollars over four decades.

Please join us January 20, 2018 at 11:00 AM in the Coronado Library Winn Room to hear the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Dan McAllister describe what he does with your money and why he takes it.

Dan McAllister has served San Diego County residents as the County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector since 2002. He was re-elected to his fourth term in June 2014 by an overwhelming 99% majority of the vote.

Dan oversees the collection of more than $5.5 billion in property taxes each year, in addition to the management of more than $10 billion in the County’s Investment Pool, and the administration of the County’s $1 billion defined contribution program.

Since assuming office, he has worked extensively to improve customer service, enhance communications and outreach initiatives, and ensure the fiscal stability of the treasury. Under his direction, his office collected nearly 60% of property tax payments electronically for the first time, while maintaining a 99% collection rate for the past three years.

He is also a strong advocate for diversity, a value reflected in his staff that comes from all walks of life and backgrounds. His office now delivers service in 17 different languages.

As part of his duties, Dan serves as a member of the San Diego County Employees Retirement Association (SDCERA), which manages more than $10 billion of investments; he also serves as President of CalTRUST, which manages a portfolio of $2.8 billion. Additionally, he is a former chairman of the Board of Directors of the internationally recognized San Diego Convention Center Corporation. Prior to his election as San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Dan was a successful financial consultant and investment broker.

Dan contributes considerable time and resources to community service. He serves as Chair of the San Diego Unified School District’s Special Audit and Finance Committee, and he is a participating member of the Boards of Directors of the Jackie Robinson YMCA; Habitat for Humanity, San Diego; and New Americans Museum, San Diego.

McAllister’s strong commitment and involvement in the community dates back to his service as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the Western Pacific country of Micronesia.

A second-generation San Diegan, Dan has completed executive education programs in portfolio concepts and management at Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree (BA) from California State University, Fresno, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from United States International University.

Did you know there are currently 11,000 survivors of politically motivated torture living right here in San Diego? This is a frightening but real statistic that is being compassionately addressed by a local non-profit organization called Survivors of Torture International (SURVIVORS). Since 1997, this amazing organization has been helping survivors and their families recover from their traumas through a holistic program that includes mental health, psychiatric and social services, as well as medical case management. SURVIVORS empowers these vulnerable individuals to reclaim the strength and vitality that were stolen from them by brutal dictators and governments and allows them to become self-sufficient and healthy members of our community. In addition, SURVIVORS educates professionals and the public about the plight of torture survivors and their families, and advocates for the abolition of torture throughout the world.

Every year, SURVIVORS holds a fundraising luncheon, called Helping Survivors Heal, to raise money to continue its mission. This year, more than 400 people attended, and the Coronado Democratic club was well represented at a table for 10, organized by Susan Enowitz. The luncheon was held on September 14 at the DoubleTree Hotel Hazard Center. Those who attended enjoyed a delicious lunch and were inspired by how SURVIVORS is creating a safe haven for torture survivors and helping them rebuild their lives. Most memorably, we heard inspiring and heartrending stories of resilience from some of the survivors themselves. There was not a dry eye in the house. All of the money donated at the luncheon will go directly to SURVIVORS’ programs and its clients.

If you need transportation to our meetings or events please let us know. Although we seldom have evening events some people find night driving difficult. Please do not hesitate to call Frank King at 992-8929, or any other board member and we will provide transportation for you.

Upcoming Events

East County Club Endorsement MeetingMarch 21, 2019 at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pmJimmy's Family Restaurant, 9635 Mission Gorge Rd, Santee, CA 92071, USASocial hour/dinner at 6, program begins at 7 and usually ends by 9.The club will be voting to endorse the Democratic candidate for the 50th Congressional District for the seat currently held by Duncan Hunter. Ammar Campa-Najjar campa@campacampaign.comAlex Balkin dan@alexbalkinforcongress.comContact: president@ecdcweb.netWebsite: http://ecdcweb.net/